Dear All
Tory leader David Cameron has a point.
It is also electioneering on his part but still valid never the less, it’s about MPs expenses reform.
Cameron is accusing the government of a "big omission" by the fact that Gordon Brown didn’t make any mention of MPs' scandal in the Queen's Speech.
He says that either Labour Ministers are "incompetent" or afraid of Labour backbenchers, some of whom have been asked to pay money back.
Sir Christopher Kelly, author of the reforms, said he was "disappointed" but I suspect that everyone knows that Kelly’s reforms will be watered down if Brown et al are returned as the government.
Brown is effectively shelving what will pass as reform until the last possible moment.
Kelly's committee on standards in public life carried out a six-month inquiry and made recommendations to change the system.
The Labour government set up a new body, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; it is set up to be as ineffective as possible. Kelly made the case that the new authority did not have sufficient powers. He concluded that MPs' pay and pensions, as well as expenses should be under the new authority. Tougher enforcement and investigation powers should also form part of the remit as well.
It is clear that the Labour Party wants to play party politics on this issue.
Cameron believes that 11 key measures are needed to be passed into law in order to implement the Kelly report.
Even the Lib Dems leader Nick Clegg said new legislation is needed to force MPs to disclose their financial interests.
In the Queen’s speech were measures to penalise excessive risk taking in the City were announced by it is clear that the Labour Party are taking no risks to ensure the gravy train continues, the issues aren’t effectively addressed and the new authority is limited in its scope to act.
As Ex MP Michael Martin famously said;
“I didn’t come into politics not to take what’s owed to me”!
So the most passionate fight in British politics in a decade continues; the fight to maintain greed and excess.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Tory leader David Cameron has a point.
It is also electioneering on his part but still valid never the less, it’s about MPs expenses reform.
Cameron is accusing the government of a "big omission" by the fact that Gordon Brown didn’t make any mention of MPs' scandal in the Queen's Speech.
He says that either Labour Ministers are "incompetent" or afraid of Labour backbenchers, some of whom have been asked to pay money back.
Sir Christopher Kelly, author of the reforms, said he was "disappointed" but I suspect that everyone knows that Kelly’s reforms will be watered down if Brown et al are returned as the government.
Brown is effectively shelving what will pass as reform until the last possible moment.
Kelly's committee on standards in public life carried out a six-month inquiry and made recommendations to change the system.
The Labour government set up a new body, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; it is set up to be as ineffective as possible. Kelly made the case that the new authority did not have sufficient powers. He concluded that MPs' pay and pensions, as well as expenses should be under the new authority. Tougher enforcement and investigation powers should also form part of the remit as well.
It is clear that the Labour Party wants to play party politics on this issue.
Cameron believes that 11 key measures are needed to be passed into law in order to implement the Kelly report.
Even the Lib Dems leader Nick Clegg said new legislation is needed to force MPs to disclose their financial interests.
In the Queen’s speech were measures to penalise excessive risk taking in the City were announced by it is clear that the Labour Party are taking no risks to ensure the gravy train continues, the issues aren’t effectively addressed and the new authority is limited in its scope to act.
As Ex MP Michael Martin famously said;
“I didn’t come into politics not to take what’s owed to me”!
So the most passionate fight in British politics in a decade continues; the fight to maintain greed and excess.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
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